AIP Stories of Recovery – February 2015

This post contains affiliate links. Click here to see what that means!

In order to support our blogging activities, we may receive monetary compensation or other types or remuneration for our endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

That being said, we only promote authors, products, and services that we wholeheartedly stand by!

“AIP Stories of Recovery” is a success story series about regular people from the Autoimmune Protocol community who are changing their lives using the protocol. Each month a new person is featured and readers have the opportunity to discover all the different health challenges that are being overcome by folks just like themselves on the same path. At Autoimmune Paleo we hope you’ll be inspired by, empathize with, and learn from these stories. If you are interested in sharing your story, please email us through the contact form.

Meet Cherene! Cherene is a wife and small business owner. Her health journey is like so many, a slow process of ever worsening symptoms and a recovery that was also about uncovering one piece of the puzzle at a time and then gradually implementing changes. Most autoimmune stories are not dramatic descents into illness; followed by hairpin turns toward wellness, but the joy of finding a way back to true health is no less amazing. I think you’ll find her transformation a very familiar and hopeful tale.

What health issues are you dealing with, when did they begin, and how long did it take to get a diagnosis?My health issues began slowly. It was around 2004, that I notice that I couldn’t lose weight no matter how restrictive my diet or how much I exercised. Over the next three years, my list of symptoms grew. In 2007, I realized that I might have a thyroid problem because I saw a list of hypothyroid symptoms posted by Mary Shomon on the Internet. One of the symptoms was having a goiter and I had one. I scheduled an appointment with my MD and showed him my goiter. He confirmed that my thyroid was enlarged and he sent me for an ultrasound and blood work. My ultrasound indicated that I had several large nodules in my thyroid. As a result, I was sent me for a biopsy. The biopsy came back negative. At that point my MD said I was okay.

In 2008, I changed insurance and doctors. During my first visit to my new MD, I mentioned the goiter and the biopsy results. My new MD was concerned about my goiter and so he scheduled more blood work, another ultrasound, and referred me to an endocrinologist. The blood test showed that my TSH was at 74.5. I was immediately placed on Levothroid. My endo monitored my goiter with a couple of ultrasounds. He was happy that my goiter was getting smaller with medication and that my TSH levels were dropping to normal levels. He told me that I had Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and as long as I took my medication I would be okay.

Describe what your lowest point with your health journey was like?In January 2013, I went to see my endo because I felt like my Hashimoto’s symptoms were coming back: weight gain, inability to lose weight, hair loss, irritability, and extreme mood swings. Plus, I had a new symptom, fatigue. In the morning, I’d feel like I had not slept at all. My doctor told me that I was exercising too much and to take a couple of weeks off for my body to heal. I was exercising like a mad woman trying to keep the creeping pounds off. Basically, he said that my Hashi’s was under control, because my blood was within the normal ranges. The rest of my symptoms were due to stress, over exercising, etc. I left his office deflated and let down.

What challenges influenced you to look for a solution? Basically, what was the tipping point?My tipping point was onset of brain fog and depression. At the beginning of 2014, I started to experience depression and brain fog. I’m a small business owner and my business was starting to suffer, because the tasks I am responsible for I was not able to handle. I realized that I couldn’t take my endo at his word and believe this was “as good as it got.” I knew I needed to look for an alternative approach.

When you found a protocol to help you heal, what was it and what was your first indication that it was working?The protocol that helped me heal was the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP). I knew I was on the right track when my brain fog started to disappear and my mood was more stable.

What resources have you used on your healing journey so far and how did you find them?Angie Alt was my coach. She helped me transition from my basic diet to AIP. I found her via The Paleo Mom Consulting website. I felt she made the journey a lot easier with her SAD to AIP in SIX program. She also helped me find stress management tools that worked for me. I appreciated her encouragement during a big life change.

Many of the resources I used came from Google searches and Pinterest. Here are some of my favorites:

Did your doctors suggest any treatments that you rejected and if so, why did you choose to try other methods?No, the doctors did not suggest other treatments. I decided to try AIP, because I believed that if I made a change I could feel better.

It can seem like our lives are consumed by a chronic illness, but there is so much beyond those struggles. What brings you true joy right now?I try to remember to stop and take time to smell the roses; by finding joy in small things: spending time with my friends and parents; watching my cat hunt squirrels in our backyard; relaxing and watching a movie.

Angie Alt is part of the blogging duo behind Autoimmune Wellness. She helps others take charge of their health the same way she took charge of her own after suffering with Celiac and other autoimmune diseases; one creative, nutritious meal at a time. Her special focus is on mixing “data with soul” by looking at the honest heart of the autoimmune journey (which sometimes includes curse words). She’s also a world traveler who has been medically evacuated from two foreign countries. Strategizing worst-case scenarios is now something of a hobby. She is a Certified Health Coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and author of The Alternative Autoimmune Cookbook: Eating for All Phases of the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol. You can also find her on Instagram.

11 comments

I am a 38 year old Veteran who was unaware of My having A.I.P. until I began getting seriously ill and lost enough weight that I had 2 heart attacks by age 30 due to malnutrition. Since my diagnosis I have had some moderate sucess with the control of symptoms that are pretty much like super GERD . My question is during flare ups needing to go to the hospital and recieve IV medication therapy in the form of DTW10 and IV morphine I am wondering if you guys have advice as to how to deal with the Doctors arrogance and refusal to submit to my experise on what is coming and how to fix it from past endeavors mainly in the pain control area I am routinely left in pain which slows my recovery which also creates a irritating environment any advice wether a site I could send them too or a clinic here in the states that might be better at treating this and setting a treatment protocol for future attacks so my docs can go back to car wash medicine

Hi Ryan, I am so sorry to hear of your struggles, and I am frustrated for you that you are meeting so much resistance in our medical system. Are you aware of the work of Dr Terry Wahls? She is an incredible doctor who healed herself from secondary progressive MS using dietary and lifestyle changes. She has done a ton of work with veterans, including studies in her diet and lifestyle clinic. I would try a couple things… 1. Research her and her protocols and see if you can get your doctors on board with integrating some dietary and lifestyle changes by sharing her approach (she has done many studies with veterans you can print out and show them!). 2. Educate yourself about your condition and make changes on your own that are likely to help – for instance go gluten free, up the nutrient density of your meals, and try to dial in your sleep and stress management. You don’t need a doctor to lead you through this. 3. If over time your doctors see improvement, it will be much easier to get them on board. Here is Terry’s site: http://terrywahls.com/about/about-terry-wahls/ Please don’t be afraid to reach out to our community if you need help and support. We are wishing you luck in your recovery, Ryan!

Dear All, Firsly I would like to say that I am having a hard time starting the AIP but I am not going to give up i know slowly I will be able to change my diet. I would like to share my story. I have diagnosed Autoimmune Thyroiditis being pregnant at the age of 38, I start taking 25mg, and then It when up to 50 mg of Levothyroxine. Today I am already in 100mg and If testing does not go well in September it might be increased. I got my last testing while I was on holidays in Spain my home country, as at the moment I live in Bangladesh, and the doctor call me to ask me how I was able to have a normal life, my results were TSH 102 microU/ml and my T4 1.35ng/dl. I was disappointed when I keep asking my doctor why and the only answer I got was It is like that but dont worry you take 100 of levothyroxine and u will be fine. But… no answer about things like? if my illness is autoimmune, why they never did a testing to my immune system how do they know I produce antibodies…? So …after doctor just give medicine I think it should be another way, but very very hard to find a doctor who practices functional medicines. I have so many doubts about what I can eat and not and also I live in Bangladesh I hardly can get anything. Thank you so much for reading my words, I am so so sad about getting more and more medicine dose. Would someone share with me the experience of starting low and after 3 years… zas! 100mg. Could you really explain what does it mean hashimoto s, does my thyorid still fuctions, could I recover its fuction. Thank you sooooo much! Rebeca Lozano Spaniard in Bangladesh

Thank you for share this experience about Hashimotos because I have it since 2011, I feel hopefull when I see person overcome the disease. I didnt know about The Autoimmune Paleo Protocol and the power of the food. Im so glad I found this page. I already begin the elimination phase and I have been so hard to leave the traditional food but when I read these stories I get power to keep going with the diet. God bless your job of trying to help people to eat healthy for the best of the own body. Blessings

Hi Jody, yes many in our community have Sjogrens. We aren’t medical practitioners though and can’t advise on dietary interventions for conditions, but many folks have found help with a variety of autoimmune conditions by going through the process of elimination and reintroduction.

Hi Cindy, we aren’t medical practitioners and can’t recommend anything for medical conditions, but we have met some folks in the AIP community have good results with alopecia. Sometimes you never know until you try!

Meet Mickey + Angie

With five autoimmune diseases between them, Mickey and Angie found their path to better health with the Autoimmune Protocol. Now it’s their mission to share that approach with nourishing recipes, practical resources, and community connections.LEARN MORE>

Pre-Order Mickey’s New Book!

Our Print Books

Check out our Podcast!

Affiliates

DISCLAIMER

The information included on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult his or her healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation or if they have any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan. Reading the information on this website does not create a physician-patient relationship.

AMAZON AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE

Autoimmune Paleo is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising feed by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Over 150,000 people have signed up for our newsletter to receive exclusive updates. Are you in?

Sign up for our newsletter and you’ll get our AIP Quick Start Series. We’ll send you our favorite food lists, meal plans, instructional videos, and other guides (all for free!) to help you get started on your journey. Plus, you’ll never miss an update! Get the AIP Quick Start Series now!

We value your privacy and would never spam you.

Stay connected with the AIP community!

Sign up for our newsletter and you’ll get our AIP Quick Start Series. We’ll send you our favorite food lists, meal plans, instructional videos, and other guides (all for free!) to help you get started on your journey. Plus, you’ll never miss an update! Get the AIP Quick Start Series now!